From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An antimetabolite is a chemical that inhibits the use of a metabolite, which is another chemical that
is part of normal metabolism.[1] Such
substances are often similar in structure to the metabolite that
they interfere with, such as the antifolates that interfere with the use of
folic acid. The
presence of antimetabolites can have toxic effects on cells, such
as halting cell
growth and cell
division, so these compounds are used as chemotherapy for
cancer.[2]

Contents

Function

Cancer
treatment

Antimetabolites can be used in cancer treatment,[3] as they
interfere with DNA production and therefore cell division and the
growth of tumors. Because cancer cells spend more time dividing
than other cells, inhibiting cell division harms tumor cells more
than other cells.

They also affect RNA synthesis. However, because thymidine is used in DNA
but not in RNA (where uracil
is used instead), inhibition of thymidine synthesis via thymidylate synthase selectively
inhibits DNA synthesis over RNA synthesis.

Due to their efficiency, these drugs are the most widely used cytostatics.